Minutes of the Tourism Committee Meeting held in the Town Hall, Bideford on Tuesday 10th March 2020 at 6.00 pm

PRESENT:

East Ward:

Councillor Mrs J Gubb (Chairman)Councillor J McKenzie

South Ward:

Councillors Mrs S LangfordCouncillor P Lawrence

North Ward:

Councillor D Bushby

West Ward:

Councillor Mrs K CorfeCouncillor C Hawkins

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mrs L Dixon-Chatfield, Town Clerk’s Asst

072. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

There were no apologies received.

073. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST ON ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting.

074. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SESSION

There were no members of the public present.

075. MINUTES

Proposed by Councillor Bushby and seconded by Councillor Lawrence, the minutes of the meeting held on 28th January 2020 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Vote – For: 7, Against: 0)

076. CHAIRMAN’S CORRESPONDENCE

This correspondence was given at the end of the meeting.

1. Change to Clean-Up Day originally set for Sunday 3rd April, needed to be changed to Sunday 26 April. All members were happy with the change.

2. Chris Fuller, the TDC Economic Development Officer, has asked the Town Clerk if there is anyone who would like to work with him and others on a branding for Bideford. The Town Clerk put this to the Chairman of Tourism. She asked members if any of them had an interest in working on a branding for the Town. Members discussed this and decided that they were pleased to be asked, but it would be best left to those who have a wider marketing and branding experience.

077. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON EVENTS IN THEBOROUGH OF NORTHAM

Councillor Edwards was not present at the meeting and therefore we did not have an update from Northam.

078. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON BIDEFORD FAIR 2020 PROGRESS, AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

The Chairman reported that more bookings had come in and she had circulated a list around members present. She pointed out that there were still a few who had not confirmed.

Councillor Bushby would find out more about a Trials Bike obstacle race he had seen online.

She also wished to set a date for measuring up the Park ready for planning where everything would be based. Councillor Bushby suggested Thursday 19th March in the morning, the Chairman wished to check her diary and would let him know.Before any planning was done, the Clerk would need to contact Hildsvin to find out how much space they would need, also the Boxing Club to see what space they required and see if the Ferret Man is attending.

The Chairman explained that a programme would need to be put together and suggested end April – by that time all information should be in and all bookings.

Councillors Hawkins and Lawrence would provide the photos for a flyer, Cllr Hawkins would be happy to draw one up and would get prices for printing.

The Chairman concluded by saying that she would like all programme content ready for the next meeting at the end of April.

079. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THE CREAM TEA FESTIVAL AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED

Councillor Lawrence was pleased to report that he had found a sponsor for the event in the form of Brewer, Harding and Rowe, who would have their logo on all advertising and marketing, on banners, flyers and posters.For this first year they would be making a payment of £300 which would be used for all marketing and promotional tools. They would have the option to sponsor again next year but the rate would increase.

Councillor Lawrence continued, he had been interviewed on the Voice FM and they would be following that up with another on-air opportunity in a few weeks. Councillor Lawrence had taken this opportunity to also promote the Pannier Market and its new look and ethos.

He continued that press releases had started going out. He was sending some out himself and so was the Clerk, adding that the press releases as well as the online presence and social media had all got the Sponsor’s logo on them.

The Chairman passed around the examples. It was noted that the wording regarding the Sponsor should read “Main Sponsor” before any banners are made. This would give an opportunity for more sponsors to be added, should they wish to.

Members discussed judging, one of which would be a representative of the Sponsor, as well as the Mayor. Councillor Lawrence was not particularly concerned with judges at this stage. He did, however, wish to promote the event with the Sponsor in their offices with a cream tea.

Councillor Mrs Corfe asked about targeting businesses who have social media pages, perhaps being a little provocative saying “Are you up to the Cream Tea Challenge of coming to Bideford?” She added that she would be happy to help distribute the flyers to different markets.

As take up for tables had been a little slow, the Clerk would remind those she had sent applications to. Members asked her to point out that all participants will have an electricity supply to make teas and coffees to go with their cream teas.

Members discussed producing a programme and the benefits it would have, but Councillor Lawrence said it would be better to concentrate on that for next year.

Councillor Lawrence informed members that the Clerk was looking at booking a busker to come in to play background music. Councillor Mrs Corfe added that she knew two girls who would be keen to busk.

The Clerk had distributed amongst members the costs of pull up banners, tie on banners and flyers.

Members all agreed unanimously to have the flyers printed by B.A.P.S and the banners to be made by Tazza Design. Flyers – 1,000 Tie On Banners – 6, Pull-up Banners – 2. The Tie-on Banners were discussed at length, as to where to site them. They would have the date on them that would be removable year on year. It was agreed that it would be necessary to distribute them further away from Bideford. The Pull-up Banners were designed to be generic and to take to all events as there were no dates on them, and if necessary the sponsor logo could be changed.

080. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON ACTIONS SO FAR AND DISCUSS PROGRESS OF THE VE 75TH CELEBRATIONS AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

Councillor Bushby advised members that he had spoken with someone who had a big interest in Military History who had expressed an interest in taking part in the Bideford VE Celebrations.

The Clerk updated everyone that she had spoken with this person who has a website and has appeared on television many times. She explained to him that she would bring it to this meeting to have everyone’s agreement for him to bring his militaria to the event. She added that he was also able to help people trace family who had been in the forces through WWII.

Councillor Bushby also knew someone who has a wartime Harley Davidson which he was willing to bring to the event.

All members agreed that it would be very interesting to have British Military History and the vintage motorcycle at the event.

The Clerk had distributed an application form for tickets and an up-to-date itinerary for the day.

Councillor Mrs Corfe wanted to make it a ticketless event, she felt that people would not and should not have to fill in an application form. She felt strongly that the event should be open to all. Concerns were raised by members as to this suggestion, mainly because of the numbers exceeding the limits of the Pannier Market. Councillor Mrs Corfe was adamant that this would not cause a problem and that, to make it properly fair, with no exclusions, this was the way to proceed.

Members discussed the suggestion in fine detail and felt that it could be implemented, with some careful organising and ensuring that ALL attendees were clicked in and out of the building, and radios are used to communicate numbers, to ensure that at not time does the Pannier Market exceed its 440 capacity. Members also discussed the importance of remembering what the event is about and to ensure that those who were serving in WWII were given priority.

To conclude this discussion, the Chairman asked if all members agreed that the event would be non-ticketed. All members agreed unanimously.

The Clerk asked if the children’s play area would remain in place or be taken up. Members discussed this and agreed that the play area should stay. She asked members about the Galley Pantry. There was discussion about this, and it was agreed that the Galley Pantry should not operate.

The Clerk informed members that the Torridge Male Voice Choir had pulled out of the event, but there was still plenty of entertainment and a programme would need to be produced.

The Chairman asked Councillor Bushby if he had sourced any dancers. He had not as such, but he knew that there was a “dance” weekend at the Pier House on 27th March and would go there to see if he could find some volunteers to help with dancing at the VE event. The Chairman agreed to accompany him or meet him there.

The Chairman concluded that with the changes in place it would be necessary to have the correct equipment and a plan in place. She would work with the Clerk on a programme.

081. TO RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON UP CLOSE THEATRE AND PLANS TO GO FORWARD WITH A FRINGE EVENT AND FUTURE PERFORMANCES IN THE TOWN HALL, AND RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL, IF APPRORIATE, ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

Councillor Mrs Langford advised members that she had received a cheque from Up Close for £170 for the Christmas Carol production in aid of the Foodbank. Incidentally when she took the cheque they were very grateful but also gave her news that 1,000 more people are using the Foodbank than were this time last year. The Director of the Theatre company had been quite ill for some time in the New Year, consequently they had only just started rehearsing Brassed Off for Barnstaple, Exeter and Holsworthy. They would then start rehearsals for Blackadder.

The Director had some ideas for 2021 and 2022, for using the Town Hall and other rooms. He was definitely keen to create a Bideford Mini Fringe Festival and was keen to work with the Town Council on such an event but not until 2022.

Councillor Mrs Langford concluded that the Theatre Company would be looking for rehearsal and storage space and wondered if members had any ideas she could impart to the Theatre Director. Councillor McKenzie suggested the youth group SPACE, he would also look at the Pannier Market to see if it could be suitable.

082. TO RE-OPEN AND DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF PURCHASING A MOBILE BILLBOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVERTISING TOWN COUNCIL EVENTS IN PROMINENT AREAS, AND IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

Councillor Bushby would look at trailers and billboards etc ready for the next meeting. It was, he remembered, an item on a previous Tourism agenda and he was sure there was a budget fixed for this item.

The Clerk had looked online at costs and would add these to Councillor Bushby’s findings for the next meeting.

083. TO DISCUSS ORGANISING A CHRISTMAS “BAVARIAN-STYLE” MARKET, USING THE PANNIER MARKET HALL AND, IF APPROPRIATE, RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL ANY ACTIONS REQUIRED.

The Chairman asked Councillor McKenzie if he had managed to find out any more about German/Bavarian markets for the Christmas Market later this year.

Councillor McKenzie said that he and Councillor Hawkins would have a look at what was available and suitable and report back to the next meeting.

084. DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING.

Tuesday 28th April at 6pm in the Council Chamber.

The business of the meeting having been completed, the Chairman thanked the members for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 7.40 pm.

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